Anyone know the origin of this phrase? Charlie? Yoink? Help!

Lo and behold

Meaning: To call attention to a surprising truth.
Example: I was in disbelief when I heard about Kevin's new car. But he opened the garage and lo and behold there was a blue Ferrari.
Origin: "Lo" is a word meaning "to call attention to" or "to express surprise".
"Behold" is a word meaning "to gaze upon or observe".

Both words are not well known or frequently used, especially "lo".

i think it is a religous saying

but when was it first used? We know the meaning, but where the heck did it come from? Hmmmm...

It originated in a land far far away...

I did a research in the Bible. The exact phrase is not used in any of the passages I found. I found several hundred though, that use "Behold" a few words, then the word, "Lo", then a few more words.

Here is an example:
Genesis 37:7
For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

It is used to say, "Look (or listen) at this, and really pay attention to this." So, the verse above would read: "For, listen to this, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, really pay attention to this, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf."

If you see the phrase, "Lo, and Behold," in literature, it probably means, "to my surprise" as it was in Gina's example.

Sensei Ern

Thanks! We knew what it meant...just one of those phrases that you wonder, "What inspired someone to say it?" Kind of like Whoopditydoo.

I think Whoopdeedo must have come out of the twenties, when they made up a lot of new phrases to cover the general feeling of the times.

Hesitations 13:13
"And whence cometh the carelessness of the peons?" asketh the Lord. "It cometh from down under. Whoopditydoo!" sayeth the Lord."

Thou shalt stopeth to talketh abouteth ye olde phrasing.

yes i think its some kinda of religious phrase

I shall keepith my trap shut least I blaspheme

I believe that is true.

A lot of archaic phrases come from the Bible. Or rather, they come from the King James Version translation of the Bible.

My grandmother used to say, "Reckon," a lot. I thought it was just some old hillbilly word. But, I later found out it is used in the KJV in the manner she used it.

Other phrases come from old literature, like the phrase, "It's Greek to me." comes from William Shakespeare "Julius Caesar" where a character was asking what another group said...commenting something about Greek language, and the other character replied, "It's all Greek to me!" meaning he didn't understand a single thing they were saying.